And now Mosfilm, the 87-year-old titan of Soviet and Russian film production—famed for works by masters such as Sergei Eisenstein and Andrei Tarkovsky, as well as genre films from adventure tales to musicals—has taken a leap into that river.

"There were many more mariners here before and wealthy people who owned boats and yachts," said 87-year-old Anthony Pontecorvo , who was born in City Island and owned Buddy's Hardware and Marine Supplies store until he sold it recently.

Analysts point to the diminishing grip of PAP's old guard—led by 87-year-old Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first and longest-serving prime minister—and the success of online media in blunting the opinion-shaping power of traditional news sources.

Furthermore, TALDF lawyers would have to show that the long-retired 87-year-old professor had suffered actual financial loss, such as getting fired from his job or having a contract canceled as a direct result of the article.